Keychron Q1 QMK Wired Custom Mechanical Keyboard(US ANSI Layout)

I love how it sounds and how it feels on my fingers!

This is my first time buying custom keyboard and I made the right choice. Q1 feels and sounds nice just out of the box. What I like the best about my Q1 is keycaps. The round edged new OSA profile keycap looks really cute, and I really love the colors they've chosen! not to mention it even feels nice on fingers. I love my Q1!! :)

Exactly what I wanted! AWESOME!

I bought the Fully Assembled Knob Version. This keyboard offers amazing value for the price. I did a ton of searching and the only readily available competitor I found was the GMMK Pro Prebuilt but that is nearly DOUBLE the price!

Key points:
- An amazing feeling keyboard right out of the box (modding definitely optional)
- Very sturdy and premium-feeling construction with the aluminium case (makes it heavy though, so not a good portable option)
- Gasket mount for a softer typing feel (more comfortable)
- Hot swappable switches
- Full keymapping with VIA software
- Limited RGB settings cycled by specific keypresses
- Swap between Mac and Windows with a switch on the back

Love how the gasket mount feels when typing. Makes bottoming out a key less of a hard clack. This is also my favourite form factor, keeping useful function keys but also hugely reducing deskspace usage without the number pad, the knob is an added bonus and honestly was something I had my heart set on having with my next keyboard purchase, so this fits the bill!

The only thing I really miss is a real keyboard software, like Corsair's iCUE, to have fancy lighting effects. The RBG settings are quite basic, though you can select from various colours, patterns and brightness levels.

Overall, I honestly just love this thing, nothing bad to say about it. Am going to add my own mods and keycaps just beacause I can but I would be quite happy just using it as is.

Surprisingly Good

This is my first custom mechanical keyboard after using a K70 with Cherry browns for many years. I got the fully assembled knob version with Gateron pro reds and was surprised with how good the board is out of the box. It looks like Keychron did a great job listening to feedback and fixing complaints when making version 2 of the board. I would have no problem leaving the board completely as it is and I'm sure many others, especially those who are just getting into keyboards, would too. I switched the Gaterons out for some lubed Boba U4Ts, added cherry profile PBT keycaps, and switched to the polycarbonate plate and am even happier with the board. I also like that the shell white version is a true white color, unlike the GMMK Pro's "White Ice," that appears to just be silver.

I wish the barebones version had an option for a white board as I would've bought that instead. It's also unfortunate that shipping is so expensive for this item. It feels deceptive that this board appears to be cheaper than some of its competition but will add a hefty shipping fee once you're about to purchase it. I would recommend people to buy any accessories they may want like the wrist rest and alternative baseplate with their purchase to avoid having to pay the $30 shipping fee a second time.

Also I think Keychron should make it more obvious that there are included tools at the bottom of the box. I didn't realize there was more under the foam at first and I have a feeling many customers may have thrown away their packaging not realizing the tools were included in there. I can already see a reviewer below mine that appeared to have not found them. A sticker or little card about it would be enough I think.

Solid pre-built custom keyboard

Model: Navy blue fully-assembled knob with gateron phantom yellow

The q1 v2 is a very nice keyboard for the price, but keychron themselves are not perfect. I found the flat $30 shipping to be pretty rough from the start and when I got the keyboard itself, the spacebar key was broken. This caused me to only press only one side of my spacebar for two weeks until a replacement came. At least they made it right in the end I suppose.

Overall, the keyboard itself was pleasant to type on stock once I took out one layer of foam from the case and added three layers of tape to the pcb. This provided good sound and a slight softness to the typing experience. Later on, I also force breaked the case with some more tape to combat spring ping from the keyboard switches.

Despite my efforts to salvage the stock switches, I ultimately switched them out for some pre-lubed Akko wine reds which have no spring ping. I also recently changed out the key caps for kinetic labs whale keycaps.

In hindsight, I should’ve gone barebones, but that’s in the past now. The keyboard is perfect for me now and I would definitely recommend it to someone who doesn’t mind tinkering a little.

Stock Stabilizers

Note: This is my first custom mechanical keyboard I've bought.

Model:
Fully Assembled Knob
Shell White
Gateron Red Switches (replaced with Holy Pandas)

The stock stabilizers on the Keychron Q1 v2 are pretty good. I felt no need to tune or relube the stabilizers as I am happy with how they sound. If I had to make a complaint, I would say that the stabilizer on my backspace key could use slight relubing, but overall I'm still satisfied with how the stabilizers sound.

If there was a barebones model of shell white version for this product, I would have bought that over the fully assembled version. I ended up replacing the Gateron Red switches on my keyboard with lubed Holy Pandas from Drop. Additionally, I replaced the stock keycaps on the keyboard with my own custom set I bought. Finally, I used the "Force Break" mod on this case.

The "Force Break" mod is when you add small amounts of tape between the top and bottom case near the screw points. I found this mod necessary to reduce ping caused by the aluminum case. Reinstalling the keyboard was a piece of cake.

Keychron does listen to the complaints reviewers had about the original case. Compared to the original version of the Q1, Keychron added additional foam to the bottom of the case. I found this to be very helpful as I didn't have to mod the case any further or replace the case foam entirely.

I wish that the Q1 included a caps lock indicator that changes the color of the LED. This would be a good quality of life feature to have in the stock firmware.

My final thoughts on this keyboard are that this keyboard is very good for its price, the stock stabilizers for the most part sound fantastic and the knob is well built with amazing tactile feedback. This keyboard continues to impress me with how amazing the sound is.

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Keychron Q1

A fully customizable 75% layout mechanical keyboard packed with all premium features and unlimited possibilities.

The Keychron Q1 is an all-metal keyboard that allows customizable capabilities for every key switch, keycap, stabilizer, personal badge, and even the plate. It’s designed to fully personalize your experience and offer a more comfortable typing experience.

Customize Your Q1

Choose the keycaps, switches and more accessories for your Q1

The sculpting of a piece of art.

This keyboard is not just a tool, but a piece of art on your desk. The Q1 is created with a 6063 aluminum CNC machined body, polished, anodized and sandblasted finish, and twenty-four manufacturing processes.

You can assemble every part.

To build a fully customizable keyboard, we designed every component to be able to assemble easily. Therefore, you can customize and adjust each component as you wish.

Switch layouts between
macOS & Windows.

Built with the Mac users’ experience in mind while still retaining compatibility for Windows devices, Keychron Q1 comes with a system toggle and an additional set of customized keycaps for both Windows and macOS systems. You will be able to save two different layouts in the keyboard, one for each system.

Gasket-mounted design makes typing more flexible.

The gasket design provides the board with a nice, flexible typing feel and a satisfying typing sound. The Q1’s maximum flex is up to 2.5mm, which makes the board one of the most flexible out there.

Program Q1 with
QMK & VIA.

With full QMK and VIA support, you can program and remap each key on the keyboard with ease. The open-source firmware means endless possibilities for keyboard layouts, shortcuts, backlight effects, and more.

Keychron Q1 75% Custom Mechanical Keyboard QMK VIA

VIA is a keyboard keymap programming software. Using VIA, you can define every key and even write MACROS for the key combinations you want on your Q1. VIA supports macOS, Windows & Linux.

Learn more about how to use VIA >

Download VIA for Mac Download VIA for Windows Download VIA for Linux

Hot-swappable.

The hot-swappable sockets are mounted on the PCB, so you can install or change the switches without soldering. The PCB supports both 3 pin and 5 pin MX mechanical switches.

South-facing RGB LED Lights.

The south-facing RGB is designed to better illuminate the keyboard backlight from the typist’s angle with the premium non-shine-through PBT keycaps installed. The south-facing RGB is also free from interference when the user installs OEM or Cherry-profile alternative keycaps on their keyboard.

Note: Some customers have reported some compatibility issues with MT3 and XDA profile keycaps on their Q1. A possible solution suggested by our customers is to slightly adjust the plate around.

Gateron Phantom switches.

Keychron teamed up with Gateron to create the exclusive Phantom switches. They deliver near-perfect consistency and smoothness with each keypress. Phantom switches are pre-lubed from the factory, offer less wobbliness, while increasing the switch's stability.

Note: The phantom switches have phantom light effects that allow the RGB backlight to have the switches' own case color. The red will make the backlights have more of a red lava fire effect, the blue will allow the backlights to have a more of a mysterious blizzard-like effect , and the brown will make the backlights have a light coffee color effect.

Keychron Q1 75% Custom Mechanical Keyboard Gateron Phantom Switches

Keychron Q1 75% Custom Mechanical Keyboard stabilizers

All new Gateron screw-in PCB stablizers.

The screw-in design increases stability and makes it easy for changes and upgrades. More precise craftsmanship makes the silver-plated stabilizers more stable and less wobbly. The big keys’ (space bar, shift, enter, delete) typing experience is more stable and smooth.

Keychron Q1 also support third-party stabilizers including Cherry or Durock.

Cable management is easy with the premium coiled aviator cable.

Whether your computer's interface is on the left, right, or front of the desk, the premium coiled aviator cable can be laid out in any manner. We have also designed the coiled aviator cables in different colors to match the different color cases.

Keychron Q1 75% Custom Mechanical Keyboard Coiled Cable

ANSI & ISO layouts.

ISO layout is widely used in the Europe while the ANSI layout is widely used by the rest of the world.

Note: If you live in the Europe, we recommend you to purchase the "Barebone ISO” version with the corresponding ISO PBT keycaps together. The "Barebone ISO” is suitable for all ISO keyboard countries like the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland etc.

ANSI Layout

ISO Layout

Typing sound test with aluminum plate.

The deep review from Dave 2D

Note: Dave's review units are the pre-production version, the retail version will come with an extra foam case, so the retail versions will have a total of two cases foam installed inside the keyboard.

What's in the box?

Keychron Q1 75% Custom Mechanical Keyboard Fully Assembled Version

Keychron Q1 75% Custom Mechanical Keyboard Barebone Version

Unboxing the fully assembled version.

Specs

Width	145 mm
Length	327.5 mm
Front Height	21.6 mm (without keycaps)
Back Height	34.8 mm (without keycaps)
Feet Height	2.4 mm
Angle	5.2°
Weight	1600 g ± 10g (the fully assembled weight)
Body Material	Full CNC machined aluminum
Plate	Aluminum
Polling Rate	1000Hz

Keycaps	Double-shot ABS keycaps, not shine-through (fully assembled version)
Switches	Gateron G Phantom (fully assembled version)
Backlight	South-facing RGB LED
Switch Support	Hot-swappable (5 pin & 3 pin)
Stabs	Gateron screw-in PCB stabs
Connectivity	Type-C cable
Cable	Premium coiled aviator Type-C cable + Type-A to Type-C adapter

Section

Drop element here

Keychron Q1 User Guide

Learn more about the Keychron Q1 such as the Q1 shortcuts, assembling the Q1, factory reset, and more in the FAQ section.